Euro Elections turnout are record low

With the ongoing expenses saga at Westminster, and the long running inaction at Stormont, it is unsurprising that over nearly 60% of Northern Ireland’s electorate stayed away from the polling stations on Thursday.

When touring some polling stations in North Belfast on Thursday evening looking for the totals at 9pm of how many people had voted, I realised it was going to be a low turnout. But only when I got into the second polling station did I realise just how low.

Then I got to the Verification at the King’s Hall yesterday. And by the end of the first stage we were sure it was going to be low. And it was. Only 42.81% of the electorate bothered to turn up to their local polling station and vote.

We’ll see on Monday just what this means in the results. I suspect that de Brún (Sinn Féin) will top the poll, and the others to get in will be Dodds (DUP) and Nicholson (UCUNF).

new alliances made at the King’s Hall

Two teams of talliers came together for the second and third stages of the verification. The Alliance Party worked with the Conservative and Unionists in return for their Director getting the Tories’ data.

Among the number from the Tories I found an old school friend, so that was entertaining. The stages were so far apart that a large group of Tories, Ulster Unionists, and Alliance members were found socializing in a coffee house on the Lisburn Road. This at least meant that we all got on. Differing views on many issues, but working together for a common purpose—that is accurate tallies.

On Monday morning, we’ll all be back in the King’s Hall with probably most of the Northern Ireland Executive in attendance as well. It’ll be interesting to see how the Assembly functions on Monday.

new alliances in the European Parliament?

Let’s hope that whatever three MEPs are elected, that they form new alliances in the European Parliament and actually work together for the good of the province instead of the fighting and bickering that they have shown during the election campaign. Here’s hoping!